Marine fender



Sept 15 1959 H. G. G. BROWN 2,903,990

MARINE FENDER Filed Aug. 29, 1956 IN VENTOR HAR/.0W 6. GRANT BROWN BY #Mf ,dsTToRNEYSl United States Patent()lF MARINE FENDER Application August 29, 1956, Serial No. 606,904

4 Claims. (Cl. 114-219) This invention relates to marine jfenders, andmore particularly to fenders of the kind vin which one or more bumper elements are strung on a rope or cable.

It previously has been proposed to provide fenders of this kind in which a plurality of bumper 'elements of toroidal, disk or like form have been strung on a rope or cable, and have been held in adjusted positions, to some degree, by retaining washers. In the prior con.-v structions referred to it has not generally been possible to adjust the parts easily and also to secure them firmly in adjusted position while still permitting disabling of the securing means easily when it has been desired to disassemble the parts or to readjust them. y

An object of the present invention is to provide a marine fender assembly of the general class referred to in which the parts are so constructed and cooperatively arranged as to provide for increased ease in adjustment,

securing in .adjusted arrangements, and freeing for disassembling or readjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fender assembly of the character stated including resilient re- '2,903,990 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 ice tions of the central walls 6 and openings 7 are convexly tapered from the respectively adjacent end walls 4 and 5 inwardly toward the opposite end walls. The elements 1v preferably are formed of resilient or cushion material which may be one of the well known moldable plastics, for example a plastic-of the vinyl class.

The bumper elements 1 are strung on the rope 2, two stretches 9, 9 of which pass through the openings 7 in the'elements 1, the ends of the rope Z-being spliced at 10 within the assembly of elements 1. In the form shown, the splice 10 is located withi-n the opening 7 in the lowermost bumper element 1. The rope 2 has an upper bight 11 which joins the upper portions ofthe rope stretches 9, 9 above the topmost element 1, and a lower bight 12 which joins the lower portions of the rope stretches 9, 9 below the bottom element 1.

For holding the bumper elements 1 and rope in the desired relative assembled positions, retainer or anchoringpluigs generally designated 13 are positioned above the ltopmost element 1 and below the bottom element 1, and so circumferentially engage the rope 2 and the associated elements 1 as to resist sliding movement of taining members so shaped and so cooperable with bumper elements as to be compressible into gripping relation with a rope or other stringer member to hold the parts in adjusted positions.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing'a marine fender assembly embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged scale fragmentary elevation showing the lower part of the assembly illustrated in Figure l, with certain of the parts being shown in the relative positions they occupy at an intermediatephase of preparing the assembly for use; l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional Viewon the line- 3-3 of Figure 2, a rope and retaining plug being shown in elevation and in completely assembled relation;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown' in Figure 3, but with the rope omitted;

Figure 5 is a perspective view .of a retaining plug, drawn on an enlarged scale; f

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, but showing a retaining button in a position for enabling relatively free sliding of the rope with respect to other parts of the assembly; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, butshowing the parts in their completely assembled relative positions in which they are not freely slidable with respect to each other. v

The illustrative embodyment of the invention includes a plurality, in the form shown, iive, of bumper elements 1 which are strung on a rope 2 passed through the bumper elements 1. Each bumper element 1 is 'in the form of a hollow annulus including a peripheral outer wall 3, an outer end wall 4, an inner end wall 5, and a central the elements 1 with respect to the rope 2 when the parts arev in their completely assembled relative positions. Each of the retainer plugs 13 is also preferably formed of resilient or cushion material, such as vinyl plastic, and islprovided with two spaced apertures 14 which extend generally parallel to the rope stretches 9, 9 and the openings 7 through the bumper elements 1. Each plug 13 is peripherally concavely tapered at 15 conformingly to the tapering of the portions 8 of the walls defining the openings 7 in the elements '1, and the extreme outer peripheral part of each plug 13 is formed as a ange 16.

lIn assembling the parts, the rope 2 before being spliced is threaded through the openings 14 in the two retainer plugs v13 and through the openings 7 in the bumper elements V1, and the rope ends are then spliced. This is done while theretainer plugs 13 are displaced from the contiguous bumper elements 1 as shown in Figures 2 and 6'. With -the retainer plugs 13 so disposed and being out of; contact with the adjacent bumper elements 1, the

v plugsare not subjected to inward radial compression and wall 6 which defines an axial opening 7. The end porthe resilient plug material is, therefore, relaxed and the plug apertures14 are of sufliciently larger diameter than the :rope stretches 9 to permit relatively free sliding movement ofthe plugs 13 and the rope stretches 9. The parts, havingbeen assembled to the extent described above, the looped rope may be moved so as to position the splice 10 Within one yof -the bumper elements, as shown in Figure 2. The parts are then in readiness for being finally positioned in vrelatively yfixed adjusted relationship. This relative xin'g of the parts is effected by forcing the retainer plugs 13 inwardly/'toward the respectively adjacent bumper elementsy 1 and coaxially into the openings 7 so as to bring the tapered plug surfaces 15 into vpressing engagement with the tapered portions 8 of the openings 7 in the elements 1. The radially inward force thus exerted upon the plugs 13 squeezes the plug material inwardly so as, in effect, to reduce the diametery of the plug apertures 14, causing the plug material to bind against or grip the rope stretches 9, 9 and permit only relatively less free sliding of the plugs on the rope stretches. Figure 6 shows the top retainer 13 in its relatively relaxed position prior to being brought into forcible contact with the top bumper element 1 with the walls of the plug apertures 14 being slightly spaced from or only lightly contacting the rope stretches 9. With the parts so positioned the plug may relatively easily be slid along the rope. Figure 7 shows the parts after the plug 13 has been moved into forcible engagement with the tapered vpart 3v of the opening 7 with resultant radially inward compression of the plug material and squeezing of the lrope by the walls of the plug apertures '14.' Figures 2 and 3 show the 'bottom retainer plug 13 respectively in its ldisplaced position and in its seeuringpnsitionin which. it grips.. .therope 2; Y "The p1ngs,rnay; b vedin tneLgri Spiggpositions either.4 Yby Ybeing 'slidV along, therope at point what. removed trorn the. adjacent rope; biglrt .andxegainst the. .adiaeerrt elernent 1,. as indieated. at.v the top. of`F` urel, or the rope. stretelres 9vmay'blepulled through the openings 7. to pause the. rope biglnt. toi-els` tendaeross and eontaet. ythe, outer faee of the' retainer plus, 'and-pull the latterY .Li-nto' the taperedr opening portion. 8, as indicated ,in .lignre 3..

tively extending through said apertures with the aperture Walls surrounding the respective rope stretches, and the diameters of said apertures being so related to the diameters of said rope stretches that said rope stretches are circumferentially engaged by said plug to resist sliding movement of said plug and said bumper element relative to said rope stretches, the rope bight extending across the outer face of said plugbetween said apertures.

2. In a marine fender assembly, a bumper element ofyielclableV material having an inner end face and an outerfend face and an opening extending axially through said element from the inner end face to the outer end face thereof, said opening having a portion tapered from whenrit is. desired tok disassemble the parts; or. vto adjust.

the .burrrperelernents 1 in new positions onithe rope .the retainer plngslgare lrst dislodged .frorn' the openingrtaneredportions so as; to.v permit the plug Ina.` terialto Y relax v,and release tneiropefo'r relatively. free sliding movement.; To. prevent the plugs 1,3. rfrom beingA pulledinto4 the opening taperedportions 8 (solar ,as-to Ineke it ditsultto dislodge. the plugs. 13. theflatter are proyided at their extreme peripheral portions with anges Yltltnlaptetlito bear resiliently againstthe adjaeent ends ofgthe .bumper elements 1 so. as tolirnit the extent. to thighV the. plug tapered' surfaces 15y may beffo'reed into. the., open ing tapered portions 8,.

'While Figure l shows atypical andI perhaps themo'st. commonly used arrangement of the parts-,it will be under-Y that the bumper elements 1` may be placed in diff ferent relative positions for special uses. 'For example, the ele'rnents ,1, or eer-tain of them, may be arranged. .in mutually spaced relation, in which ease aretainer plug l may be plat-.ed adjacent to each surface tor 5 v'ofleloll element 1 so aste maintain theelerrientsvin predeterminedrelative 4positirnls deployed .along the rope...v

l Inyery large assemblies the-'anohoringplligs mayV be. formed-With four, 'instead of 'only two, apertures, and

-lWorone loops or four rope'V stretehes. may'beemployed:Y

for stringing the' elements 1.' In such .constretiona eaell ropestretehpasses through one of the apertures'..in each plug and is relatively `released or gripped.accord-v ingflo the positioning,ofl thefplug with :resp-eetto the adiaoentbumper element, as explained above- Preferably, the material constituting .the buttons, ory plugs; 1311's somewhaty softer or more yieldable than the. material ofv whieh the Ibnrnper elements are formed This issondueiveto most effeetive cooperation oflfllle parts for the `gripping and releasing of the ropestretohes as. required. j v Y 'ljrepburnper elements 1 being of yieldable material, thelassernblyis effective for vminimi-zing shocks, but, be-` ing rQsenLjhe Aelements 1 .do not take lon. permanent said outer end faces inwardly toward said inner end face; two rope stretches extendingthrough said opening and being joined by a bight outwardly beyond said outer end face; and an anchoring plug of yieldable material tapered A. ellis. poripheryoonfornling to land fitting coaxially within the' tapered portionof, said opening and having two vaper tures exte g, through said` plug on opposite sides of the illus andopening eommonaxis and being spaced from eachrthor ytransversely to said axis, said rope stretches` riesp-tlvv ly extendingA through ysaid apertures with the walls` surrounding the respective rope stretches,v eters of saidapertures being so, related to` Y cirumferentially engaged by said plug to resistr sl lng movement of said plug and said bumper element relative to said rope stretches, the rope bight extending across ,the outer face of said plug between said apertures "LLI, Anl arinesfender assembly, a bumper element of, yieldableY material having an inner end face and an out ,r fell ffaee and an opening extending axially through i endfa said element ,from theY inner end face to the outer end'V face thereof, "said opening having a portion tapered from-saidouter en d ,face inwardly towardsaid inner o ,rope stretches. extending through said opening and eing joined by a bightfoutwardly beyond said outer `.end face; `andan anchoring plug. of yieldable material tapered at Vits periphery conformingly to and ttingy eoaxially within the tapered portion of said opening and having two. apertures extending through said plug on opposite sidesN of .the plugand opening common axis being-fspaced'fromeaeh other transversely to said axis, said rope stretches respectively extending throughv Said-apertures with the: aperture Walls .sprroundlngfthe o respective rope stretches/in gripping relation thereto, thelrope bight extending across the outer face of said deformation in service.- Moreover, the hollow form vof thebnrnper elements renders: thern `buoyant solas to recoverable ifY inadvertently dropped the` water, ,andY so .as toghe usable as life Presenters- Ihe construction disclosed embodies theinveution a preterhredrforrn.; but it is intended that thedisclosure beA illustrgtiyeratherj thandenitivq the invention being `dei ngd in thgappended claims. I

lelainrr I. 'In a marinefender assembly, a bumper .element having an inner 'endfac'e andan outer endgfaee andan opening extending axially throughsaid element-imm the inner end face ,to the/,outer en d Vface thereof, v.sar-ivd opening haying a portion. tapered .from saidgoutergend Trace.;

etehes 1 and van plug between said apertures, sai/ d plug apertures being" sutloiently largerin cross section than said rope when sgidapluggis ,displaced from said opening tapered portion and is not. subjected to inward radial pressure to. pegnit ,relatively free sliding ofv said plug on said rope str etl'les,i,saidv apertures being .reduced in cross section when said1 yplugisforced intosaid opening tapered por. tionandgsaid-,pluggis compressed radially inwardly and said plug is forced-into binding. contact with said rope stretehenlwhereby there can be .only relatively less free sliding of said plug on said rope stretches.

.di Bild1-marine .fender assembly, a bumper element Q f yieldable) materialhaving an inner end' face andan outer end faceand 4anopening extending axially through said element'fronrtheinner end face' to the outer end faoeutllereof, said opening yhaving a portion tapered fronlrrs'ai'd-Jouter endyfrace' inwardly toward said inner end faee-two rope lstretches extending throughV said opening and -being jointed by a bight outwardly beyond said outercn'rl'face; and an anchoring plug of yieldable material` tapered at its periphery conformingly to and litt-ing cpgaxially 'within the `tapered portion of said opening .eipg -paed from. eachother transversely to said axis, said rope stretches respectively extending through said apertures with the aperture walls surrounding the respective rope stretches in gripping relation thereto, the rope lbight extending across the outer face of said 6 having an outer peripheral iiange engaging the outer face of said bumper element for limiting forcing of said plug into said opening tapered portion and thereby limiting the radial inward compressing of said plug and its plug between said apertures, said plug apertures being 5 binding upon said rope stretches.

sufliciently larger in cross section than said rope when said plug is displaced from said opening tapered portion and is not subjected to inward radial pressure to permit relatively free sliding of said plug on said rope stretches, said apertures being reduced in cross section when said plug is forced into said opening tapered portion and said plug is compressed radially inwardly and said plug is forced into binding contact with said rope stretches, whereby there can be only relatively less free sliding of said plug on said rope stretches, said plug 15 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,665 McElroy Apr. 25, 1916 2,105,815 Mass Jan. 18, 1938 2,197,839 Roberts Apr. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,883 Norway Nov. l1, 1935 

